Toronto's 43rd Pride weekend begins

Now in its 43rd official year, Toronto Pride Festival Weekend runs from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, June 30.

As much as the festival is about celebrating everything 2SLGBTQ+, organizers say it's important to remember that at its heart, Pride is a protest. 

Kojo Modeste, Pride Toronto's executive director, says that's especially true this year when many members of the community still feel under attack.

"It is as important in 2024 to celebrate pride as it was in 1971 when we had our first pride," Modeste told CBC Toronto. "Hate crimes against the 2SLGBTQ+ community are on the rise, especially our trans community, our drag queen community."

According to data from Statistics Canada, police reported hate crimes targeting sexual orientation and sex and gender increased each year between 2018 and 2022. 

Advocates also point to recent government legislation from across the country they say is targeting trans youth. In 2023, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan introduced policies requiring parental consent for students under 16 to change their pronouns and names at school. 

And earlier this year, Alberta's government announced legislation for this fall that will limit gender-affirming care for youth, including banning puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors aged 15 and under.

"Pride is always a party, but it's also always a protest," Curran Stikuts, director of advocacy at the 519, told CBC Toronto. "Looking over the past couple of years, the rising levels of anti-2SLGBTQ hate, both at home and abroad, is really concerning for us as a community." 

In light of Canadian legislation, as well as similar bills introduced in states across the U.S., Stikuts said celebrating Pride is more important than ever.

"[We need] to have these opportunities to come together, to be loud and proud and have a lot of fun, but really also support each other through what are some difficult times," he said. 

That's also why the 519, a non-profit that supports 2SLGBTQ+ people, is holding its annual Green Space Festival – now in its 15th year – this weekend. 

All proceeds from the festival help fund the organization's programming. 

"Every drink that somebody buys, that's an opportunity for us to provide a hot meal to a senior," Stikuts said. "Every donation somebody makes, that's a way that we can help cover the cost of changing somebody's legal name, who's transitioning. Every Club 519 Pass people buy, that's money that we can use to help support the over 10,000 LGBTQ refugees who have turned to us in the past year for programs and support." 

Green Space features DJs and drag performances throughout the weekend.